Machine for cutting grass, &amp;c., from river-bottoms.



Patented Mar. 6, I900.

J. ALLEN.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING GRASS, &.c., FROM RIVER BOTTGMS.

Application filed June 1. 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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No. 644,885. Patented Mar. 6, I900. J. ALLEN. MACHINE FOR CUTTING GRASS,

&c., FROM RIVER BUTTONS.

(Application filed Juno 1, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Shaet 2.

(No Modal.)

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Josnru ALLEN, or 01111200, FLORI A.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING cRAssfate, FROM R-IVER BOrTbt/I S;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 644,885, dated March 6,1900.

Application filed June 1,1899. $erial 110. 719,016. (No model.)

(lb all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosErH ALLEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chipco, in the county of Pasco and State of Florida, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for CuttingGrass and other Vegetation from River-Bottoms; and I do declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

The invention has relation to machines for cutting grass and othervegetation from the bottoms of rivers, which seriously interferes withtraffic on manyof the southern rivers.

A further object is to provide means for cutting away partiallysubmerged and embedded logs, so as to lessen the danger of collision ofvessels with these obstructions.

With these objects in View the invention consists in certain features ofconstruction and combination of parts,which willbe hereinafter fullydescribed and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of aportion of the bow of a vessel equipped with myim proved machine. Fig. 2is a top plan view.

In the drawings,1 denotes the bow of a boat, and 2 denotes twolongitudinal beams secured to the bow and extending forwardly in advanceof the same and provided at their free ends with bearings 3.

4 denotes the cutter-frame, consisting of the longitudinal side pieces 55, the rear crosspiece 6, and the intermediate cross-piece 7.

8 denotes a cross-piece having journals 9 at its ends, which fit in thebearings of the side pieces 2 and permit of a swinging movement of thesaid cutter-frame.

J ournaled in bearings 10 at the forward end of .the cutter-frame is ashaft 11, provided with cutter-heads 12, which are fixed to said shaftby set-screws 13. Each cutter-head is provided with long sharpcutting-blades,

which alternate with chopping-blades 14;.

The forward end of this cutter-frame is adapted to be lowered into thewater and to cut and chop seaweed, grasses, and all forms of vegetationthat grow in rivers and which are very often of such density as toimpede if not entirely stop navigation. I :4

The cutting mechanism is driven by mechanism which I will now proceed todescribe. At each end of thecutter-shaft are provided sprocket-wheels15, which are connected by sprocket-chains 15 with sprocket-wheels 16,fixed to a shaft 17, journaled in bearings 18, secured to the sidepieces of the frame. Secured to the shaft 17 is a sprocket-wheel 19,which is connected by a sprocket-chain 20 to a sprocket-wheel 21 on thedrive-shaft 22, which shaft 22 is driven by any suitable power carriedby the vessel to which the machine is attached. The rotary movement ofthe drive-shaft is transmitted to the cutting mechanism, and as thevessel is propelled forward this cutting mechanism is rapidly rotated,cutting and chopping away all the weeds and grass with which the bladesand choppers come in contact and makinga clear passage for the vessel.

In order to adjust the cutting mechanism to different depths, I providea Windlass 23, which has a cable 24, that runs over a pulley 25-,secured to the bow of the vessel, and is connected with the intermediatecross-piece of the frame. By rotating this Windlass it will be seen thatthe forward end of the cutter-frame may be raised or lowered whendesired.

Oftentimes it is found necessary to remove logs that have becomesubmerged in the water and embedded in the bottom of the river, and alsoin narrow streams it is often necessary to remove trees that have beenblown across the stream in heavy gales. To this end I have provided mymachine with a saw 26, by means of which all of these obstructions maybe removed. Thearbor of this saw is mounted in a swinging arm 27,journaled upon ashaft 28, which shaft is journaled in stud-bearings 29,secured to the frame, and is provided with a sprocket-wheel 30, which isconnected by a chain '31 with a sprocket-wheel 32 on the drive-shaft.The upper and lower ends of the swinging arm are provided with slots orrecesses 33, the lower one to receive the sprocket-wheel 34, fixed tothe arbor of the saw, and the upper one to receive a sprocket- Wheel 35,fixed to the shaft 28, these two sprocket-wheels being connected by asprocket-chain 36.

37 denotes one member of a clutch, which is keyed to the shaft 28 torotate therewith and to slide thereon, and 38 denotes the other memberof the clutch, which is formed on the hub of the sprocket-wheel in theupper end of the swinging arm.

39 denotes a clntch-shipper which is pivoted to the frame and engagesthe clutch member 37 and by means of which the upper sprocket-wheelcarried by the swinging arm may be locked to the shaft and the motion ofsaid shaft imparted to the saw at the lower end of the log.

40 denotes a Windlass or winding-drum supported upon the deck of thevessel and provided with a cable 41, which extends along and throughguides 42, secured to one of the beams, and has at its free endsgrapples 43. When it is desired to remove a leg from the river, thesegrapples are engaged therewith and the Windlass or drum rotated, so thatthe log may be raised entirely clear of the bed of the river in which ithas been embedded. Should, however, the log be of such dimensions as torender it impracticable or impossible to withdraw it, then the portionprojecting free from the bottom of the river and not embedded thereinmay be out off by lowering the saw, the swinging arm being provided witha pivoted push-rod 44, by means When the saw is not in use, it is ofcourse understood that the sliding clutch member is removed fromengagement with the clutch member of the sprocket-wheel and the sawele-' vated from contact with the water.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

In a machine of the character described,- the combination with the frameadapted to be pivoted to the bow of a vessel, of cutter-heads 12 fixedto a shaft 11 supported at the forward end of said frame and providedwith suitable cutters, a sprocket-whee115 fixed to saidshaf-t, a shaft17 having sprocket-wheels 16 and 19 fixed thereto, a sprocket-chainconnecting the wheels and 16, a driving-shaft 22 having a sprocket wheel21 fixed thereto, a sprocket-chain connecting the sprocketwheels 19 and21, a Windlass, a rope connected to the pivoted frame and passing over apulley 25 secured to the bow of the boat and connected to theWindlass,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH ALLEN. Witnesses:

JAY NYE, Gr. 1 OBRIEN.

